Means for registering negatives for photographic printing machines



Oct. 31, 1933. w. c. HUEBNER 1,933,059

MEANS FOR REGISTERING NEGATIVES FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINES FiledAug. 4, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l 50 z? 26 29 z@ Za 56 Z5 sa Jg 75 l0 LInu/6721702;

OCt. 31, 1933. W. Q HUEBNER 1,933,059

lMEANS FOR REGISTERING NEGATIVES .FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINESFiled Aug. 4, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MHHHMI- Patented Oct. 31, 1933 MEANSFOR REGISTERING NEGATIVES FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINES William C.Huebner, Chicago, Ill.

Application August 4, 1928. Serial No. 297,511

4 Claims.

This invention relates tor :improvements in means for registeringnegatives for photographic printing machines.

In the art of photographically preparing press plates for printing, itis customary to use a photographic printing-machine or photo-composerwhich consists, essentially, of a main frame; holding means for thepress plate; holding means for the negative; and means for effecting'10i relative shifts, in parallel planes, between the negative and platein two directions at right angles to each other, whereby the negativecan be positioned over any desired point of the press plate andthereupon brought into intimate Contact and exposure made. Generally, insuch machines, the negative is carried by a negative frame mounted on anegative holder, the latter in turn being mounted in a definite positionon a sub-carriage which is adjustable on a main 'j carriage in onedirection, the main carriage in turn being adjustable on the main frameand with reference to the press plate, in a direction at right anglesthereto. With such constructions, the positions of the negative holderwith jreference to the press plate can be definitely ascertained at anytime by suitable scales indicating the two travel lines of the machine,that is, the line of travel of the main carriage on the frame and theline of travel at right jangles thereto of the sub-carriage on the maincarriage. To know accurately the position and location of the negative(or more accurately, the image on the negative to be reproduced on thepress plate) extreme accuracy of registration of the negative on itsimmediate negative holding frame is necessary, and to obtain this it hasbeen the usual practice to register the negative in its holding frame bymeans of a separate machine known as a registering mag chine or devicesuch as shown in my prior Patent 1,291,897, granted January 21, 1919.

I-Ieretofore, the most common form of negative used has been glass,which negatives are, from a practical standpoint, free from any ob-;jection on account of expansion and contraction and can easily bebodily shifted relative to their immediate holding frames and clamped inadjusted position. There are, however, practical limitations to the sizeof glass negatives which can be used and, hence, to the separateregistering devices heretofore employed therewith. In certain classes ofwork, particularly large posters, it is not always feasible to use glassnegatives and consequently resort is now frequently being had tofiexible films made of Paper or other similar material. Flexible orpaper films are frequently of relatively large size requiringcorrespondingly large frames for holding the same and, to effectregister of the images on such exible films is extremely difficult inany of the usual types of registering machines, because of the necessityof localized stretching and conditioning of I different portions of thefilm, as more fully explainedin my application, Serial No. 295,683,filed July 27, 1928, now Patent 1,870,008, granted August 2, 1932.

One object of my invention, therefore, is to provide simple andefficient means for effecting register of a negative after it has beensecured in fixed operative position with respect to its immediateholding frame so that the negative may be first secured in place and theregistering effected thereafter. Y Another object of my invention is toprovide means for effecting registration of a flexible film after thelatter has been secured taut in its holding frame. Y v

Another object of my invention is to provide means for obtainingregister of negatives by adjustment of the film or negative holdingframe relative to the negative main holder, which latter is adapted tobe directly attached to the photographic printing machine. Y

Another object of my invention is to provide a registering devicewherein the negative holder, which is adapted to be secured to themachine proper, is utilized as part of the means for v effectingregistration between it and a negative or film secured to a film holdingframe.

Other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from theYdescription and claims hereinafter following.

In the, drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is aplan view of a negative main holder, with a fiexible film frame in placethereonI and means for obtaining register of the film with respect tothe holder. Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical detail sectioncorresponding approximately to the line 2 2 of Figure 1, illustratingsome, of the structural ,features of the holder frame and means forobtainingregis-` ter. Figure 3 is a vertical sectional Viewcorresponding to the line 3 3 of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a top plan View,upon an enlarged scale,ofthe parts shown in Figure 3. Figure 5 is adetail perspective of the two register bars at the points ofintersection. Figure 6 is a detail View ofthe structure at the corner ofthe apparatus, showing more particularly the method of securing the lmframe after it has been adjusted.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 3 illustrating a modification.Figure 8 is a top plan view of the construction illustrated in Figure 7.And Figure 9 is a detail sectional view ofa modified form of registerbar. w

Referring first to the construction illustrated in Figures 1 to 6inclusive, the main negative holder is indicated generally by thereference character A; the film frame by the reference character B; anauxiliary supporting frame by the reference C; and the register bars bythe reference characters D and E.

The main holder A is preferably of rectangular form having a centralopening as indicated at 10 and comprised of a main fiat plate 11 aroundthe periphery of which is provided a strip vof sponge rubber 12 foreffecting an air seal with an opposed press plate. The rubber strip 12is secured to the main plate 11 in any suitable manner, as for instanceby the channel formation comprised of the lower plate 13 and sidegripping plates 14-14. Suitable means are provided for attaching theholder A to the usual sub-carriage of -the photographic printing machineproper, in a definite predetermined position and location with respectto said sub-carriage so that the center of the holder A may always bedetermined by proper reading of the scales corresponding to the twotravel lines of the machine, as hereinbefore explained. For thispurpose, I preferably provide the holder A with two dowel holes 15-15 onone narrow edge thereof and with two other dowel holes 164-16 on a longside thereof, which dowel holes are adapted to cooperate with anaccurately fitting, corresponding pair of dowels on the sub-carriage. Byproviding two sets'of dowel holes, as above described, the angularposition of the holder A may be turned through'QO", so as to positionthe image either head up, head down, head right, or head left, as may berequired by any particular job.

The auxiliary frame C is also of rectangular outline, having a centrallydisposed opening 17 coinciding with the opening 10 of the main holder A.Said frame C preferably consists of a relatively thick'metal plate andis supported in fixed position with reference to the holder A by anysuitable means, such as Athe dowels 18, carried by the holder A andwhich enter corresponding dowel hole bushings 19--19 of the frame C. Toeffect an air seal between the auxiliary frame C and the holder A, theframe is preferably provided with a flexible flap 20 of rubber or othersuitable material extending entirely around the opening 17 and backedthroughout by a sponge rubber strip 21. The ap and rubber strip aresecured to the frame C preferably by narrow plates 22.

The film frame B is also of rectangular form, having a central opening23 to permit passage of the light rays through the film or negativeduring exposure. Said film frame may be of any suitable construction butpreferably is comprised of upper and lower plates 2li-25 and a film iseffected by moving the combined clamping jaw and block 29-27 outwardly,which is accomplished by means of an adjusting screw 32. Preferablythere will be employed a backing sheet of Celluloid or the like 33 forthe exible film, said sheet 33 bridging the opening of the film frame Band secured around its edges to the frame B by suitable means, such asthe plate 30.

To insure an air seal between the lm frame B and the auxiliary frame C,the latter may have mounted on the upper surface thereof a thin rubberstrip 35 and another rubber strip 36 may be interposed between the filmand the top surface of the film frame B. The parts so far described areor may be, the same or substantially the same, as described and claimedin my said PatentV 1,870,008.

In carrying out my invention, the flexible film 30 will first be securedin a taut condition to the film frame B, this being accomplished whilethe frame B is disassembled from the rest of the structure and,preferably, also, the film will have been treated so as to render thesame impervious to moisture and temperature changes.

With the film secured to the film frame and the latter then assembledwith the main holder A, registration of the negative or film is effectedin the following manner.

Detachably secured to the main holder A are two register or line-up barsD and E. Adjacent the center of each side of the holder A and on theinner side of the rubber sealing strip 12, the holder A has securedthereto a narrow steel block 37 so positioned as to be clear of theadjusting screws 31 and 32. Each said block 37, as best shown in Figure3, is adjustably secured to the holder A in a direction lengthwise ofthe corresponding side of the holder, by any suitable means, such'as thescrews 38--38 which extend down through elongated openings 39-39 in theblock, the heads of said screws 38 being countersunk below the topsurface of the block, as clearly shown in said figure. Each block 37 ispreferably provided with a dowel hole 40 in its upper face into which isadapted to be entered aV corresponding dowel pin 41 integral or rigidwith the corresponding bar D or E. The bars D and E are preferably ofthe cross section indicated in Figure 3 and are formed along one edgethereof with a bevel as indicated at 42 so as to obtain a Very sharpknife edge. Said edge is also preferably notched at relatively closeintervals, as indicated at 43-43, in Figure 5, 1m

for the purpose hereinafter described.

The bars D and E are so positioned that the same substantially rest uponthe film 30 when the latter is in place so that the knife edges 42 ofthe bars extend in very close proximity to the film to facilitateregister as about to be described.

The blocks 37 may be adjustable as above described, so as to provide foran extremely accurate adjustment of the ends of the bars D and E andwhen the proper adjustment of the blocksV 37 has once been obtained,they are permanently locked to the holder A. The blocks 37 are soadjusted that the knife edges of the bars D and E will extend exactly atright angles to each other and in exact parallelism with the two travel'lines of the' machine proper, which also are at right angles. Further,the said knife edges will coincide exactly with the median lines of theholder A so that said two knife edges,

projected, intersect at the exact center of the holder.

l In this art, it is customary to provide each negative or iilm withregister marks which are almost universally in the form of littlecrosses, as indicated lat 44-44, said crosses being located outside ofthe area of the actual image to. be reproduced and, further, coincidingwith two lines at right angles to each other, which intersect at thecenter of the actual image, as nearly as possible. The said register orcross marks will be in the same position on all thenegatives or lms of aseries, where a series is employed, as for instance, in color work.

With the arrangements which I have shown and with the bars D and E inplace, the iilm frame B is then shifted or adjusted preferably by handuntil the vertical lines of the two upper and lower cross marks 44coincide exactly with the knife edge of the vertical bar D. Similarly,the horizontal lines forming parts of the two horizontally disposedcross marks 44 are made to coincide exactly with the knife edge of thehorizontal bar E. The lines forming the crosses or register marks 44 areusually very fine and so accurate is the registration required that Ihave provided the notches 43 to insure exact registration and toeliminate error which may occur, due to the lines of the marks beingpartially obscured beneath the knife edges of the register bars. Byemploying the notches 43 and spacing them at close intervals, a part ofeach register mark will be exposed within the notch, so that theoperator may assure himself that the line is exactly centrally disposedbeneath the knife edge at each point of registration.

When the film frame B, with its film thereon, is registered in themanner just described, the film frame B is then locked with reference tothe holder A by suitable means, such as those most clearly illustratedin Figure 6. Preferably the frame B is provided at each corner thereofwith an angular block 45 having an arcuate slot 46 therein through whichis extended a securing screw 47 threaded to the main plate ll of theholder A. A washer 48 may be interposed between the head of the screwand the block 45, it being understood that the head of the screw will bedisposed below the level of the lm so as to avoid any projectionthereabove and thus prevent scratching or injury of the press plate whenan exposure is made. Adjusting screws -80 are also provided, whichengage in threaded portions of the frame 45,

the square or hexagonal ends of the screws being adapted to abut againstthe holder A to lock the frame 45 against displacement after the imagehas been registered.

Referring to Figure 5, the bars D and E are shown as oppositely recessedor notched as indicated at 49 and 50 so as to permit overlapping withoutdisturbing the planes of the two bars and at the same time permit of thenecessary relative adjustment between the two bars when Y obtaining theoriginal line-up. After the film or negative has been registered and thelm frame locked in registered position, the bars D and E will be removedand the negative holder assembly is then ready for attachment to thephotographic printing machine proper.

Referring to the modication shown in Figures 7 and 8, the main baseplate of the holder is indicated at 111 and has secured thereto in Xedposition, a block 137, it being understood .that there are four suchblocks similar to the blocks 37. Each block 137 is preferablyv providedwith a pair of dowel holes 140-140 which receive correspondingdowel'pins 141-141, on the underside of the cradle 70, the latter havingupstanding flanges 71-71 at eachvend,which receive threaded adjustingscrews '72-72; Adjustablymounted onrthe cradle 70 is a frame 73 whichcarries theL end of the corresponding line-up bar D or E. By adjustingthe screws 72, it is evident that the gauge edge of the bars D andE maybe accurately positioned with reference to the holder A to coinciderwith the travel lines as above described and, when the proper positionhas been obtained, the block 73- is locked to the cradle 70, as by thescrew 74. The barsv D are hence removable by detaching the assemblycomprising the bar D, block '73 and cradle 70, and may be accuratelyreplaced by means of the dowel and dowel hole arrangement described.

In the modification shown in Figure 9, the

line-up bars are formed of glass, as indicated at 75 and in thisinstance, instead of using an edge of the bar for registering, the glassbar is preferably provided on its underside with a longitudinal gaugeline76 and the reading eifected by looking through the bar and bringingthe register marks 44 into register with the line 76. To minimize thedanger of breakage of the glass bars the latter may be bound with metalbinding strips 77, as shown in Figure 9.

I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferredmanner of carrying out my invention, but the same is by way ofillustration and not by way of limitation. All changes and modificationsare contemplated that come within the scope of the claims appendedhereto.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with aportable negative main holder having means thereon cooperable withcorresponding means on a photographic printing machine adapting theholder to be attached to said machine in predetermined position withreference to the two travel lines of said machine; of register means onsaid holder definitely and predeterminedly coordinated with said twotravel lines of said machine whereby a negative may be registered withrespect to said means on said holder, said means comprising two separatebars detachably mounted on the holder, Vsaid bars extending at rightangles to each other and.

having gauge lines intersecting at the center of the holder.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a holderhaving means thereon cooperable with corresponding means on aphotographic printing machine adapting the holder to be attached to saidmachine in predetermined position with reference to the two travel linesof said machine; of separate line-up bars mounted on said holder; andmeans for adjusting the points of attachment of the ends .of each ofsaid bars with respect to the holder whereby to independently registerthe gauge portions of each of said bars accurately tocorrespond with thetwo travel lines of said machine.

3. In a register device of the character described, the combination witha negative main having a series of clamping and stretching jaws for aexible film; vand. register means on said holder positioned in closeproximity to a lm carried by said lm frame.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination p with anegative holder having means thereon cooperable with corresponding meanson a photographic printing machine adapting the holder to be retained ina predetermined position and location with respect to the tw'o travellines of the photographic printing machine; of a negative frame adaptedto hold a negative thereon; removable register means denitely co-relatedto said two travel

